A3 3.2 Swap to 130 M-Sport or E46 M3

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edition

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Hi,

Decided I want a change and looking at both of the above BMW's.


Anybody had either and any comments to make about ownership? I was at 1st thinking E46 M3 but the inside seems abit dated and abit worried about running costs if something goes bang!

Then saw the 130's and although i'm not keen on the looks they do seem a nicely priced fun car.....

Thanks in Advance

Also what do you think I would be looking at for mine price wise? 2005 S-Line, RNS-E, Half leather, 58k miles, Black and imaculate cond. and just serviced.
 
I'd be looking at around £8k to £9k for it. Compare with AutoTrader.

Right, if you go for an M3 then fair enough. If you go for the 1-Series I'm gonna find out where you live and slap you. It's no better than your A3. In fact I'd argue that it's a lot worse. It's cramped, it's ugly and it's interior is ****. Somebody needs to sit you down and have a word for you for being such a mug.

Just kidding. Seriously tho it's pants.
 
sub39h said:
I'd be looking at around £8k to £9k for it. Compare with AutoTrader.

Right, if you go for an M3 then fair enough. If you go for the 1-Series I'm gonna find out where you live and slap you. It's no better than your A3. In fact I'd argue that it's a lot worse. It's cramped, it's ugly and it's interior is ****. Somebody needs to sit you down and have a word for you for being such a mug.

Just kidding. Seriously tho it's pants.
Click to expand...

I agree with sub39h my mate has the 130 M and it honestly is a pile of camel poop..... id stay with the a3 but if you do wanna change then I guess a M3 will have to do haha...
 
Hehe more of a drivers car tho. no?

Just not sure wether I can stomach the costs of a M3 if it went wrong.......... hmmmm
 
e46 m3 - very very good car... v expensive running costs!! i mean very!! but serious fun! and fast!!
130i m sport - ok but not far from your a3... id prefer a3.. 130i has no LSD.. and is pretty boring & ****** ugly!!!
 
Hey Jonathan, still wanting to change eh! lol

M3s are very good but as said before the running costs are high!!!! Nooooooooo not a 130i, nice pokey engine but come on, ugly girls cars, sorry, just my opinion. Go for an S3 if you after more fun.
 
The M3 is epic to drive, sounds mega on chat, I can see the attraction.

Worth a punt if you get nice one cheap enough, you could maybe get a years running and sell on without getting burned?
Agree that it is looking dated now though, inside and out.

As for the 1 series....see above

For cheap,swift, reliable rwd antics, what about an RX8?, still look great IMO, cheap too, very thirsty however but wont be that much worse than a 3.2 and wont matter if you dont do loads of miles.

Good luck
Paul
 
Ive got an E46 m3 sitting in my garage, albeit with a smg gearbox problem which is now stretching out to be a 6 month old thorn in my side.
Car feels like a complete Dinosaur to drive next to anything that is half up to date.
Stick with Audi, a far far better product as far as i am concerened.
Buy a 170 common rail tdi A3, then get some proper driving lessons at a race circuit & i think you will find you will travel faster than you ever thought possible.
 
If you can be bothered with manual then go for the 170d Quattro A3.
The RX8 will drink fuel, make your 3.2 look like Prius !! and it will drink oil ! rekon on a litre per tank of fuel ! and you will have to thrash it because it has no torque.

It really comes down to what you need and how much you want to pay. 3ltr d A5 is huge fun. A std TT is a nice thing if you can live with 2 seats.....the diesel is quick. BMW 130 and M3 are chalk
and cheese.

Merc CLK350 ?
 
There are a few e46 m3s kicking about main dealers still which would give me a yrs warrenty to sort any inherant issues out.... They are dated inside but. Think I need to drive one to see if an m car is actually much different!
 
Sarah's A3 said:
Hey Jonathan, still wanting to change eh! lol

M3s are very good but as said before the running costs are high!!!! Nooooooooo not a 130i, nice pokey engine but come on, ugly girls cars, sorry, just my opinion. Go for an S3 if you after more fun.
Click to expand...


Hehe Ugly girls car! It's just they are cheapish and look cheapish to run.......
 
Don't go for the 130!! Anyone who likes that car needs some serious help as for the M3 great car but expensive my mate has one just had to replace the whole exhaust system bill came to 3K!!!!! M3 is a heavy car compared to the A3! If you want something fun to drive and not overly worried about practicallity go for a Honda S2000, so so much fun or I'd look at may be focus RS previous to the new shape.... some serious fund to be had..... if you're set on the bmw might make more sense to go for a 330 very nice engine yes a little slower than the M3 but still has some beans and good spec if you get an m-sport one?!?!?!

Good luck go drive some then decide you'll soon know which one floats your boat!!!!
 
agree with the others, BMW 1 series' look aweful.

do love the M3, but running costs will be higher - skimp on servicing and you'll know about it

how about nissan 350Z if you can live with 2 seats? b4 i bought my a3 it was a toss-up between that and the nissan funnily enough, but i needed the practicality :(
 
paddy said:
The RX8 will drink fuel, make your 3.2 look like Prius !! and it will drink oil ! rekon on a litre per tank of fuel ! and you will have to thrash it because it has no torque.
Click to expand...


Indeed, the consumables aint cheap, but the car is cheap to buy, reliable, tail happy, and still looks relatively fresh for its age.


C`mon Pad, the glass can be half full sometimes you know!

Thumbs up for the S2000 if 2 seats are enough, my old man has one. Out of the box mint, low miles, 1 previous owner etc...coming up for sale soon, currently trying to talk the missus into buying it.

Cheers
Paul
 
If you want a BMW go for a 335. That's a great car. The E46 M3 is great car but its age is starting to show. Inside and out. The 130 or any 1 series would be out of question IMHO.
 
PaulAr said:
Indeed, the consumables aint cheap, but the car is cheap to buy, reliable, tail happy, and still looks relatively fresh for its age.


C`mon Pad, the glass can be half full sometimes you know!

Thumbs up for the S2000 if 2 seats are enough, my old man has one. Out of the box mint, low miles, 1 previous owner etc...coming up for sale soon, currently trying to talk the missus into buying it.

Cheers
Paul
Click to expand...

If only I had the fund and didn't need the practicality of the A3 I'd be straight back into an S2000......... Good luck with the misses, just tell her she looks good in it......
 
the M3 is still an amazing drive.. my mates got one, has 65k on it and still runs and drives beautifully.... end of the day its an M car... if you can deal with a bit of running cost or grab one from a main dealer you should be ok for a year without any majors!!

whatever you do thought dont get SMG! cause 1, if it goes wrong its v expensive. 2, its not that great (IMHO) very jerky and when driving fast almost feels like the diff going to explode! never liked em! and thats even in a 10k M3 CSL which i been in! the E90 m3 is a lot better!! which i wish to own one day :wub:
 
I hired a 1 series a while ago abroad and the boot is tiny. Underwhelming otherwise.

And not Quattro either.

Why is the M3 expensive to run compared with a 3.2 A3?
 
S3RYE said:
whatever you do thought dont get SMG![/B] cause 1, if it goes wrong its v expensive. 2, its not that great (IMHO) very jerky and when driving fast almost feels like the diff going to explode! never liked em! and thats even in a 10k M3 CSL which i been in! the E90 m3 is a lot better!! which i wish to own one day :wub:
Click to expand...

Spot on, Ive driven the E90 M3 with paddles and found I was a bit detached from the drive. It was shifting for me when I was late on the up/down changes.
Didnt like it. Only had in on a short blat, maybe you get used to it?

Everything else was great, although the manual E46 did feel more exciting.

Paul
 
edition said:
Hehe Ugly girls car! It's just they are cheapish and look cheapish to run.......
Click to expand...

Yeh I know and sometimes its limiting when funds are tight but you will regret it from the A3. But if they offer more of what you are after, ie warranty etc etc then at least test drive one first before you decide! Just hope you dont get any snow this coming winter!!!! Good luck choosing!
 
Nice to see we're still as unbiased as ever. ;)

OK the 130 might look ****** awful, but it's far better to drive than an A3. You're right that it isn't a true performance car, but at least the right wheels are being driven. If you want an LSD then get one, £1,200 installed and will make the car leagues ahead of pretty much ANY Audi in the handling/driver enjoyment stakes. While Audi's are very capable at what they do, RWD fun doesn't appear anywhere in the spec.

Interiors are as subjective as exterior looks too, I quite like BMW's simplicity and although there is a marked difference in quality between the 1 and 3-series interiors, neither are exactly Kias, are they?

Anyway, have fun deciding and let us know what you go for.
 
mitch78 said:
Nice to see we're still as unbiased as ever. ;)

OK the 130 might look ****** awful, but it's far better to drive than an A3. You're right that it isn't a true performance car, but at least the right wheels are being driven. If you want an LSD then get one, £1,200 installed and will make the car leagues ahead of pretty much ANY Audi in the handling/driver enjoyment stakes. While Audi's are very capable at what they do, RWD fun doesn't appear anywhere in the spec.

Interiors are as subjective as exterior looks too, I quite like BMW's simplicity and although there is a marked difference in quality between the 1 and 3-series interiors, neither are exactly Kias, are they?

Anyway, have fun deciding and let us know what you go for.
Click to expand...

RWD v FWD is one debate, but RWD v 4WD is another.

4WD sits right in the `safe-as-you-like` zone, something that AUDI do so well.
RWD is an instant hit, couple of times Ive driven RWD (Mates E46/E90 M3, Dads S2000) it makes you want one as soon as you get out.
BUT, as a daily for a ham fisted Joe Shmoe power junkie like me, who does the rush hour thing and wants to sit in a pretty place, then fast AUDI quattro is where its at.

Cheers
Paul (S3 fanboy):happy:
 
Last edited:
mitch78 said:
it's far better to drive than an A3.
Click to expand...

i drove a 130i and an S3 back to back. it's not far better to drive. it's about the same to drive. and in a group test 130i vs. Mk5 R32 vs. S3 in Top Gear mag they thought the R32 was the best to drive which is basically what he has now. in any event if you wanted the car which is the most fun behind the wheel the M3 would win hands down. there's more to it than that.
 
Don't think you need to defend yourself Paul, I just thought that there were a few more people on here that were car/driving enthusiasts, that happened to be currently driving an Audi, rather than mainly being Audi fanboys. Just so you know, you're one of the people that I don't consider to be a fanboy, so even though the comment wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, just the general feeling of the replies so far, the comment was definitely NOT aimed at you.

You're right that Audi do fast 4WD brilliantly, and if that's what people like then they're perfect, but edition obviously wants RWD and his chosen two options are both equally valid as very capable cars. Most of the opinion on the 130 is down to looks, personally I don't care what a car looks like if it's fun to drive, and although it won't be the same as the S2000, most of us have to have one car that's practical enough for everything we do, which rules out 2 seaters for the vast majority of people. Add the LSD to the 130 and you've a pretty good value practical car that can deliver RWD fun whenever you want.
 
a 1 Series is NOT practical. cf. an A3 for boot space and rear leg room
 
sub39h said:
i drove a 130i and an S3 back to back. it's not far better to drive. it's about the same to drive. and in a group test 130i vs. Mk5 R32 vs. S3 in Top Gear mag they thought the R32 was the best to drive which is basically what he has now. in any event if you wanted the car which is the most fun behind the wheel the M3 would win hands down. there's more to it than that.
Click to expand...

But the 130 isn't S3 money though, is it? Compare the 135 with the S3 and you're closer to comparable cars (budget wise) with very different dynamics. And would you seriously recommend anyone base a car purchase on a Top Gear review?
 
You are right on some of your points Mitch. Ive had a Beama and did love the rear wheel drive until the snow fell. I chose my Beama after I chose the engine as the Beama Diesels are some of the best on the market and mine was ace! The Ms are great cars but can be expensive to run. Jonathan needs to test drive a few first, maybe not just the 1 series but the 3 and 5 too! But maybe he needs something practical for everyday use etc. Sure he will choose whats best for him.
 
mitch78 said:
But the 130 isn't S3 money though, is it? Compare the 135 with the S3 and you're closer to comparable cars (budget wise) with very different dynamics. And would you seriously recommend anyone base a car purchase on a Top Gear review?
Click to expand...

they've driven more cars than me, so yes i would. considering i've driven 2 of the 3 myself and have since driven a 3.2 A3 as well and agree with them that makes me doubly sure. brand new they were a comparable price. hence they are directly comparable.


mitch78 said:
Not practical? Not as big as an A3 maybe, but that doesn't mean it isn't practical.
Click to expand...

i'm sorry, it's not at all practical. it's boot is tiny and it's back seats are literally useless for anything other than small children and amputees. i can just about fit behind myself in my A3 3dr and i'm 6ft 2 and wear a turban. i've also moved somewhere in the region of 75% of my stuff into and out of uni for 5 years in an A3 of one description or another. 2 of my mates have 1 Series (one a 3dr, one a 5dr) and i guarantee you i'd probably get around half the amount of stuff in one of those.
 
i'm not the one seems to have memorised his lines :p
 
I am glad to see the BMW/Audi arguements have moved on then...oh, actually. sub, I think you are chasing Paddy for his crown of ASN chief S3 hater. ;) (excuse phone format)
 
i don't hate the S3. i've said before if i had the money for a Sepang blue sportback with new RS6 alloys and S-Tronic i'd be all over it like a rash. but personally i just think the 3.2q is a bit more special (considering how many of you own S3s it'd certainly be more exclusive) and it would be my pick of the two. i also think the S3 is a little over-rated by you guys. not that it's not a good car. i'd be more than happy with one. i can just think of other things i'd rather own for the cash. £32k+ for a properly equipped S3 is a lot of money.

i'd also like to point out i'm advocating the M3 here as top choice, so i'm not being an Audi fanboy.
 
mitch78 said:
Don't think you need to defend yourself Paul, I just thought that there were a few more people on here that were car/driving enthusiasts, that happened to be currently driving an Audi, rather than mainly being Audi fanboys. Just so you know, you're one of the people that I don't consider to be a fanboy, so even though the comment wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, just the general feeling of the replies so far, the comment was definitely NOT aimed at you.

You're right that Audi do fast 4WD brilliantly, and if that's what people like then they're perfect, but edition obviously wants RWD and his chosen two options are both equally valid as very capable cars. Most of the opinion on the 130 is down to looks, personally I don't care what a car looks like if it's fun to drive, and although it won't be the same as the S2000, most of us have to have one car that's practical enough for everything we do, which rules out 2 seaters for the vast majority of people. Add the LSD to the 130 and you've a pretty good value practical car that can deliver RWD fun whenever you want.
Click to expand...

With you mate, bit tongue cheek on my behalf too.

The 1 er probably is and should be the purist choice, maybe good bang for buck because of its moose like aesthetics.
Not one for the vain like me.

Anyway, no one has mentioned the Cayman yet?

In fact, Paddy reckons the Corsa is the best thing since since, well, anything.

S3 v Corsa? Thers one we havent done yet.:eyebrows:

What was the question?:sly:

Cheers
Paul
 
Hey Paul, maybe Paddys dropped his V6 into the corsa!! But he did tell me it takes a bit of winding up lol! Cheap to run though!
 
sub39h said:
i can just think of other things i'd rather own for the cash. £32k+ for a properly equipped S3 is a lot of money.
Click to expand...

The eternal debate....

32K gets you all kinds of stuff, a smashing caravan in Haggerston Castle, 125 crack whores, used 911, flat in the West end of Newcastle, a Champion Whippet, a run down small holding in Morpeth, Sarah Beenys best Bra.
And even a lightly used Cayman ( the gay version). etc...

All small fast German cars are wacky money. Funnily enough, Audi-Sport.net subscribers fancy an S3.

What was the question?

Cheers
Paul
 
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